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Swedish Armed Forces

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Template:Short description Template:Update Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox national military

The Swedish Armed Forces (Template:Langx, literally Defence Force) are the armed forces of the Kingdom of Sweden. It consists of four separate military branches, the Swedish Army, the Swedish Navy, the Swedish Air Force and the Home Guard.

Sweden's military has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, driven by a rapidly evolving security environment in Europe and its historic decision to join NATO in March 2024.2 This shift has led to substantial increases in defense spending, ambitious personnel expansion plans, and a renewed focus on territorial defense alongside continued international engagement.

The Swedish Armed Forces have a long history, dating back to the sixteenth century, and have played an influential role in the history of Sweden. They reached their height in the seventeenth century, during the time of the Swedish Empire, when they participated in a variety of wars; these include the Scanian War, Northern War of 1655–1660, and Great Northern War, among others.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Since the nineteenth century, they have also played an important role in the maintenance of Swedish neutrality, especially during the Cold War.

The Swedish Armed Forces consist of 25,600 active personnel, including 9,700 officers, 5,700 enlisted soldiers, and 10,200 civilian employees.<ref name="Personalsiffror"/> Additionally, there are 7,100 reserve officers and 4,700 part-time enlisted soldiers, along with 22,200 soldiers in the Home Guard.<ref name="Personalsiffror"/> As of 2023, 6,300 conscripts undergo military training annually, set to increase to 8,000 by 2025. In wartime, the total personnel is estimated to be 88,000, including all regularly employed personnel, reservists, and conscripts.<ref name="SVT-Försvarsbeslut"/>

Units of the Swedish Armed Forces are currently on or have taken part in several international operations either actively or as military observers, including Afghanistan as part of the Resolute Support Mission and in Kosovo (as part of Kosovo Force).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Moreover, the Swedish Armed Forces contribute as the leading state for a European Union Battlegroup approximately once every three years through the Nordic Battlegroup. Prior to 2024 Sweden had close relations with NATO and NATO members, and participates in training exercises like the Admiral Pitka Recon Challenge, and Exercise Trident Juncture 2018. In 2024, the country formally became a member of NATO.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Sweden also has a strong cooperation with its closest allies of the Nordic countries, being part of the Nordic Defence Cooperation, Joint Expeditionary Force, and joint exercises such as Exercise Northern Wind.

Sweden has not participated in an officially declared war since the 1814 Swedish–Norwegian War, although its forces, under the UN flag, have been involved in such conflicts as the Congo Crisis and the military intervention in Libya.

EquipmentEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}Template:No references The Swedish army has 121 tanks (Leopard 2/Strv 122), roughly 1,540 APCs (Patria XA-360/203/180, RG-32 Scout, Bv410, Bv308/309), 450 IFVs (CV9040), 11,300 utility vehicles (ex. Bv206/208, MB G-Class 6x6 and 4x4, MB sprinter), 84 towed and 40 self-propelled mortar (12 cm grk m/41, grkpbv90) and 26 self-propelled artillery guns (Archer). It also consists of several different specialized vehicles.

The Swedish Navy has a total of 387 ships, including 4 submarines (3 Gotland, 1 Södermanland), 7 corvettes (5 Visby, 2 Gävle), 9 minesweepers (5 Koster, 4 Styrsö), 13 larger patrol boats (2 Stockholm and 11 Tapper) and 9 specialised ships with different support duties. The rest is made up of different smaller vessels such as the CB90.

Currently the Swedish Airforce has a total of 210 aircraft, 94 of those being JAS39C/D Gripen (60 JAS39E on order), 6 C130H Hercules (1 with aerial refueling capabilities), 4 SAAB 340 (2 AEW&C and 2 VIP transport), 4 Gulfstream IV (2 SIGINT and 2 VIP transport) as well as 15 UH-60 Blackhawk, 18 NH90 and 20 AgustaWestland helicopters. The rest is made up of different transport and trainer aircraft.

HistoryEdit

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The history of the Swedish Armed Forces dates back to the early sixteenth century, when they were founded by the newly crowned monarch Gustav I Vasa. Since then, they have played an important role in the history of Sweden; they have been engaged in numerous conflicts since their founding.

It was in the seventeenth century that the Swedish Armed Forces reached their height, during the time of the Swedish Empire. During this time, they were among the leaders in military innovation, and engaged in many wars; among the Swedish wars of the seventeenth century were the Thirty Years' War, Second Northern War, Scanian War and Great Northern War. The military of the Swedish Empire was one of the most important institutions in the empire.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

After a period of enhanced readiness during World War I, the Swedish Armed Forces were subject to severe downsizing during the interwar years. When World War II started, a large rearmament program was launched to once again guard Swedish neutrality, relying on mass male conscription as a source for personnel.

After World War II, Sweden considered building nuclear weapons to deter a Soviet invasion. From 1945 to 1972 the Swedish government ran a clandestine nuclear weapons program under the guise of civilian defence research at the Swedish National Defence Research Institute. By the late 1950s, the work had reached the point where underground testing was feasible. However, at that time the Riksdag prohibited research and development of nuclear weapons, pledging that research should be done only for the purpose of defence against nuclear attack. The option to continue development was abandoned in 1966, and Sweden subsequently signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1968; the program was finally concluded in 1972.

During the Cold War, the wartime mass conscription system was kept in place to act as a deterrent to the Soviet Union, seen as the greatest military threat to Sweden. The end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union meant that the perceived threat lessened and the armed forces were downsized, with conscription taking in fewer and fewer recruits until it was deactivated in 2010. This small size is often considered one of the major strategic weaknesses of the Swedish Armed Forces.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The Russo-Georgian War of 2008 and the events in Ukraine in 2014 gradually shifted Swedish debate back in favour of increased defence spending, as concerns grew over Russia's military buildup and intentions. Conscription was reintroduced in 2017 to supplement the insufficient number of volunteers signing up for service. Unlike in the past, the current conscription system applies to both men and women.

Following the United Kingdom leaving the European Union in 2020, the EU's mutual defence clause (Lisbon Treaty Article 42.7) ceased to apply to the UK. In 2022, Sweden and the UK signed a mutual security deal, re-pledging support if either state is attacked.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On June 29, 2022, Finland and Sweden were formally invited to become members of NATO,<ref name="enter">Template:Cite news</ref> and joined respectively in 2023 and 2024.

DoctrineEdit

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The Swedish Armed Forces have four main tasks:<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

  1. To assert the territorial integrity of Sweden.
  2. To defend the country if attacked by a foreign nation.
  3. To support the civil community in case of disasters (e.g. flooding).
  4. To deploy forces to international peace support operations.

Sweden aims to have the option of remaining neutral in case of proximate war.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> However, Sweden cooperates militarily with a number of foreign countries. As a member state of the European Union, Sweden is acting as the leading state for EU Battlegroups<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and also has a close cooperation, including joint exercises, with NATO through its membership in Partnership for Peace and Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2008 a partnership was initiated between the Nordic countries to, among other things, increase the capability of joint action, and this led to the creation of the Nordic Defence Cooperation (NORDEFCO).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> As a response to the expanded military cooperation the defence proposition of 2009 stated that Sweden will not remain passive if a Nordic country or a member state of the European Union were attacked.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Recent political decisions have strongly emphasized the capability to participate in international operations, to the point where this has become the main short-term goal of training and equipment acquisition.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> However, after the 2008 South Ossetia war territorial defence was once again emphasized. Until then most units could not be mobilized within one year. In 2009 the Minister for Defence stated that in the future all of the armed forces must be capable of fully mobilizing within one week.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2013, after Russian air exercises in close proximity to the Swedish border were widely reported, only six percent of Swedes expressed confidence in the ability of the nation to defend itself.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

OrganizationEdit

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File:1025448 A Swedish JAS-39 Gripen returns to the play areas of the Arctic Challenge exercise Sept. 24, 2013.jpg
The Swedish multirole fighter, the Saab JAS 39 Gripen.
File:NH90.jpg
NH90 of the Swedish Armed Forces
File:K32 HMS Helsingborg Anchored-of-Gotska-Sandoen cropped.jpg
The Swedish Visby class corvette.
File:Swedish CV9040.JPG
The Infantry fighting vehicle CV 90 produced and used by Sweden.

The Chief of Defence, formerly the Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces (Template:Langx, ÖB), is a four-star general or flag officer who is the agency head of the Swedish Armed Forces and the highest ranking professional officer on active duty. The Chief of Defence reports, normally through the Minister of Defence, to the Government of Sweden, which in turn answers to the Riksdag. The current chief of defence is General Michael Claesson.<ref name= gould2021>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Before the enactment of the 1974 Instrument of Government, the King of Sweden was the de jure commander in chief (Template:Langx). Since then, King Carl XVI Gustaf is still considered to hold the honorary ranks of general and admiral à la suite, but the role is entirely ceremonial.<ref name="kungahuset.se">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The Swedish Armed Forces consists of three service branches; the Army, the Air Force and the Navy, with addition of the military reserve force Home Guard. Since 1994, the first three service branches are organized within a single unified government agency, headed by the Chief of Defence, while the Home Guard reports directly to the chief. However, the services maintain their separate identities through the use of different uniforms, ranks, and other service specific traditions.

Armed Forces HeadquartersEdit

The Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters is the highest level of command in the Swedish Armed Forces.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It is led by the Chief of Defence (formerly the Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces) with a civilian director-general as his deputy, with functional directorates having different responsibilities (e.g. the Military Intelligence and Security Service). Overall, the Armed Forces Headquarters has about 2,100 employees, including civilian personnel.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

SchoolsEdit

Some of the schools listed below answer to other units, listed under the various branches of the Armed Forces:

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CentresEdit

Nordic BattlegroupEdit

The Nordic Battlegroup is a cooperative formation of the Swedish Armed Forces alongside mainly the other Nordic countries but also some of the Baltic countries as well as Ireland, tasked as one of the EU Battlegroups. The headquarter garrison for this group is currently situated in Enköping, Sweden.

International deploymentsEdit

Sweden is part of the multinational Kosovo Force and has a naval force deployed to the gulf of Aden as a part of Operation Atalanta. Military observers from Sweden have been sent to a large number of countries, including Georgia, Lebanon, Israel and Sri Lanka and Sweden also participates with staff officers to missions in Sudan and Chad. Sweden has been one of the Peacekeeping nations of the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission that is tasked with overseeing the truce in the Korean Demilitarized Zone since the Korean war ended in 1953.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Past deploymentsEdit

Swedish air and ground forces saw combat during the Congo Crisis, as part of the United Nations Operation in the Congo force. Nine army battalions were sent in all, and their mission lasted from 1960 to 1964.

A battalion and other units were deployed with the NATO-led peacekeeping SFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1996–2000), following the Bosnian War. NORDBAT 2 has been studied as an example of mission command on a chaotic battlefield with conflicting national orders.

Sweden had military forces deployed in Afghanistan with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (2002–2014), and the subsequent Resolute Support Mission (2015–2021), which ended when all NATO troops were withdrawn after 20 years of action.

PersonnelEdit

From national service to an all-volunteer forceEdit

In mid-1995, with the national service system based on universal military training, the Swedish Army consisted of 15 maneuver brigades and, in addition, 100 battalions of various sorts (artillery, engineers, rangers, air defence, amphibious, security, surveillance etc.) with a mobilization-time of between one and two days. When national service was replaced by a selective service system, fewer and fewer young men were drafted due to the reduction in size of the armed forces. By 2010 the Swedish Army had two battalions that could be mobilized within 90 days. When the volunteer system had been fully implemented by 2019, the army consisted of 7 maneuver battalions and 14 battalions of various sorts with a readiness of one week. The Home Guard was reduced in size to 22,000 soldiers.<ref name="hv0702no1Facts">Template:Cite journal</ref> In 2019 the Swedish Armed Forces, now with a restored national service system combined with volunteer forces, aimed to reach 3 brigades as maneuver units by 2025.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

National Service Force 1995 Selective Service Force 2010 All-Volunteer Force 2019 Selective Service Force/Volunteer Force 2025
Maneuver units 15 brigades 2 battalions 7 battalions 3 brigades
Auxiliary units 100 battalions 4 companies 14 battalions ?
Readiness 1 to 2 days 90 days 7 days ?

Re-implementing conscriptionEdit

After having ended the universal male conscription system in 2010, as well as deactivating conscription in peacetime, the conscription system was re-activated in 2017. Since 2018 both women and men are conscripted on equal terms.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite journal</ref> The motivation behind reactivating conscription was the need for personnel, as volunteer numbers proved to be insufficient to maintain the armed forces.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The Swedish defence forces are currently educating 5,000-6,000 conscripts per year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the defence forces stated that there is a need for significantly more than the current.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> By December 2022, it was announced to increase the yearly conscripted to 10,000 by the end of 2035.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In addition, figures from 2022 show that 79% of Swedes support in some form, an increase in the number of people who are conscripted. 47% of the respondents said that the majority of 19/20 year-olds should perform conscription.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Personnel structureEdit

File:Swedish pvt and CV90-40C in California.jpg
Swedish soldier during an exercise in California, 2007.

Military personnel of the Swedish Armed Forces consists of:

  • Officer OFF/K – Regular continuously serving officers (OF1-OF9).
  • Officer OFF/T – Reserve part-time officers (OF1-OF3).
  • Specialistofficer SO/K – Regular continuously serving NCO (OR6-OR9).
  • Specialistofficer SO/T – Reserve part-time serving NCO (OR6-OR7).
  • GSS/K – Regular continuously serving enlisted (OR1-OR5).
  • GSS/T – Reserve part-time serving enlisted (OR1-OR5).
  • GSS/P – Personnel in wartime placement (OR1-OR5).

K = Continuously

T = Part-time

File:Holstebro Øvelsesplads 2106 160523-A-RJ696-059 (26790201094).jpg
Swedish soldier firing a rifle in Denmark, 2016.

P = Conscript, for personnel drafted under the Swedish law of comprehensive defence duty

Planned size of the Swedish Armed Forces 2011–2020Edit

Category Continuously serving Part-time serving Contracted
OFF 3,900 OFF/K 2,600 OFF/T –
SO 4,900 SO/K included in the above SO/T –
GSS 6,600 GSS/K 9,500 GSS/T –
Home Guard – – 22,000
File:Svenska-försvaret-1965-2010.gif
Chart showing the size of the Swedish Armed Forces 1965–2010. Yellow = number of air wings; Blue = number of infantry regiments; Red = number of artillery regiments; Green = number of coastal artillery and amphibious regiments.

Annual recruitment of GSS is assumed to be about 4,000 persons.<ref>Template:Cite report</ref>

Criticism and researchEdit

In 2008, professor Mats Alvesson of the University of Lund and Karl Ydén of the University of Gothenburg claimed in an op-ed, based on Ydén's doctoral dissertation, that a large part of the officer corps of the Swedish Armed Forces was preoccupied with administrative tasks instead of training soldiers or partaking in international operations. They claimed that Swedish officers were mainly focused on climbing the ranks and thereby increasing their wages and that the main way of doing this is to take more training courses, which decreases the number of officers that are specialized in their field. Therefore, the authors claimed, the Swedish Armed Forces were poorly prepared for their mission.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Major changes have been made to the officer system since then.Template:Citation needed

The transformation of the old invasion defence-oriented armed forces to the new smaller and more mobile force has also been criticized. According to the Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces the present defence budget will not be enough to implement the new defence structure by 2019. And that even when finished the armed forces will only be able to fight for a week at most.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

During 2013 several Russian Air Force exercises over the Baltic Sea aimed at Swedish military targets have made the future of the Swedish Armed Forces a hot topic and several political parties now want to increase defence funding.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In August 2019, the government announced a bank tax to fund the military spending.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

RanksEdit

File:Lieutenant General Michael Claesson, Chief of the Defense Staff, Armed Forces of Sweden, at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.,January 22, 2024 (cropped).jpg
Gen. Michael Claesson, the Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces.

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When an army based on national service (conscription) was introduced in 1901 all commissioned officers had ranks that were senior of the warrant officers (underofficerare) and non-commissioned officers (underbefäl). In a reform 1926 the relative rank of the then senior warrant officer, fanjunkare, was increased to be equal with the junior officer rank underlöjtnant and above the most junior officer rank fänrik. In 1960 the relative rank of the warrant officers were elevated further so that

In 1972 the personnel structure changed, reflecting increased responsibilities of warrant and non-commissioned officers, renaming the underofficerare as kompaniofficerare, giving them the same ranks as company grade officers (fänrik, löjtnant, kapten). Underbefäl was renamed plutonsofficerare and given the rank titles of sergeant and fanjunkare, although their relative rank were now placed below fänrik. The commissioned officers were renamed regementsofficerare, beginning with löjtnant. The three-track career system was maintained, as well as three separate messes.

A major change in the personnel structure in 1983 (NBO 1983), merged the three professional corps of platoon officers, company officers, and regimental officers into a one-track career system within a single corps called professional officers (yrkesofficerare). The three messes were also merged to one.

In 2008 the Riksdag decided to create a two-track career system with a category called specialistofficerare. When implementing the parliamentary resolution the Supreme Commander decided that some ranks in this category should, like the old underofficerare ranks in 1960–1972, have a relative rank higher than the most junior officers.

Planned expansionEdit

Budget and personnel numbersEdit

The Swedish government has decided to increase the military budget to 2.6 percent of GDP by 2028. Furthermore, by 2030, they plan to increase the number of conscripts to 10,000 and to have a standing force of four brigades. In 2027, the budget for military research will increase by 50% to 1.6 billion SEK. By 2030, the number of employees is expected to increase to 115,000, and to 130,000 by 2035.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Planned military budget<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Year Budget SEK
2025 2.4% of BNP 143 Billion
2027 2.5% of BNP 156 Billion
2028 2.6% of BNP 173 Billion
2028 2.6% of BNP 186 Billion

Equipment purchasesEdit

Sweden has also put an order on 44 Leopard 2 tanks and will renovate 66 of the ones they have in their current arsenal (for 22 billion SEK). Alongside these renovations, they will also modernise their Combat Vehicle 90 vehicles (until 2030). Furthermore, the armed forces have placed an order for 575 trucks from Scania and Volvo. They will cost approximately 1.4 billion SEK and are expected to be delivered between 2025 and 2026. An effort to modernize the army's firearms was made in 2023 by purchasing a large quantity of weapons in collaboration with Finland from the Finnish manufacturer Sako. The weapons will be delivered during a 10 year period. <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The Swedish Navy has placed an order for two new working ships from Astilleros Armon Vigo SA. They are expected to be delivered between 2027 and 2028 and are intended to replace HMS Pelikanen and HMS Furusund. The Swedish fleet of Stridsbåt 90s will also be strengthened, with 10 units ordered from Saab in 2024 for approximately 400 million SEK.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Structure and LeadershipEdit

The Swedish Armed Forces are led by the Supreme Commander (currently General Micael Bydén), who reports to the Government, specifically through the Minister of Defence (Pål Jonson as of late 2024). The headquarters are located in Stockholm.3 The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) plays a crucial role in procuring equipment and services, ensuring the armed forces are well-equipped to execute their missions.4

As of 2024, the Army is reorganizing and raising new units, including a 1st Division, which incorporates brigades like the Life Guards Brigade and the Skaraborg Brigade.5 Specialized units such as the Life Regiment Hussars (K 3) and Norrland Dragoon Regiment (K 4) provide ranger and intelligence capabilities, particularly vital for operations in Sweden's diverse terrain, including the subarctic north.6 The Navy continues to operate surface combatants, submarines, and amphibious units, while the Air Force maintains its fleet of advanced fighter jets and support aircraft. The Home Guard (Hemvärnet) serves as a vital territorial defense force, composed of part-time personnel and reservists.7

Personnel and ConscriptionEdit

In response to the changed security climate, Sweden has significantly boosted its personnel numbers and re-emphasized conscription.8 As of 2024, Sweden maintains approximately 88,000 personnel, including active-duty members, conscripts, and reserves. There are ambitious plans to further increase the armed forces to approximately 115,000 personnel by 2030, with a long-term goal of 130,000 by 2035.9

Conscription, which was reinstated, plays a key role in this expansion. In 2023, 6,300 conscripts underwent military training annually, a number set to increase to 8,000 by 2025 and 10,000 by 2030.10 This ensures a steady stream of trained personnel to bolster both active units and the reserves.

Defense Budget and Modernization: A Historic InvestmentEdit

Sweden's commitment to defense is evident in its significantly increased military expenditure.11 In 2024, the defense budget was projected to be around $12.0 billion USD, marking a 34% increase from 2023. This pushed Sweden's military burden to 2.0% of GDP, aligning with and even exceeding the NATO target in its first year of membership. The government has pledged to further raise defense expenditure to 2.6% of GDP by 2028, representing a substantial investment in military capabilities.12 This includes a loan-financed investment of approximately 300 billion SEK (€27 billion) by 2030, a historical military rearmament plan since the Cold War era.13

This increased funding is driving comprehensive modernization programs across all branches of the armed forces:

  • Army: A major focus is on upgrading and expanding the tank fleet. Sweden is acquiring 44 new German-made Leopard 2A8 tanks (designated Stridsvagn 123B)14 and modernizing 66 of its existing Stridsvagn 122 tanks (equivalent to Leopard 2A5) to the Stridsvagn 123A standard.15 These upgrades, worth almost 20 billion SEK (approximately $1.8 billion), include replacing electronic components, installing new L55 guns with programmable ammunition capabilities, enhanced night sights, and updated night vision for drivers.16 The modernized tanks are expected to be delivered between 2026 and 2030, with new tanks arriving from 2028 to 2031. Once completed, Sweden will possess 154 modern main battle tanks.17 Additionally, the fleet of Combat Vehicle 90 (CV90) tracked armored fighting vehicles is undergoing a modernization valued at over 5 billion SEK, to be completed by 2030. The army is also acquiring 575 new trucks from Scania and Volvo, with deliveries expected between 2025 and 2026, and has initiated a 10-year program in collaboration with Finland to modernize its firearms. Two new mechanized brigades for subarctic warfare are also under development in the northern parts of the country, aiming to be operational by 2028.18
  • Navy: The Swedish Navy has placed orders for two new working ships from Astilleros Armon Vigo SA, expected for delivery between 2027 and 2028, to replace older vessels. Furthermore, the fleet of Stridsbåt 90 combat boats will be reinforced with 10 new units ordered from Saab in 2024.19 Modernization efforts also include upgrading the five Visby-class corvettes with new air defense systems, and the acquisition of three larger Luleå-class corvettes.20 In early 2025, HSwMS Ulvön became the first Swedish mine countermeasure vessel to join NATO's standing naval force.
  • Air Force: The Air Force is set to receive a third GlobalEye surveillance aircraft and 12 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters, adding to its existing fleet of 15.21 The JAS 39 Gripen remains the backbone of the fighter fleet, with ongoing mid-term modifications of existing aircraft.
  • Hybrid Threats and Cyber Defense: Recognizing the evolving nature of warfare, Sweden is investing an additional SEK 96 million (€8.86 million) in 2025 to strengthen its capabilities against hybrid threats. This includes empowering agencies like the Swedish Coast Guard, the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, and the Psychological Defence Agency to counter hybrid threats in various domains, including maritime and cyber.22 Sweden actively participates in international cybersecurity exercises like Locked Shields, hosted by the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre.23

NATO Membership and International CooperationEdit

Sweden's formal accession to NATO in March 2024 marked a historic shift in its security policy, ending two centuries of non-alignment.24 This membership fundamentally alters Sweden's role in European defense and its approach to international cooperation.

  • Collective Defense: As a NATO member, Sweden is now included in the collective defense guarantees under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty. This means an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. Sweden is also obligated to contribute military and civilian resources to the collective defense effort.25
  • Enhanced Military Cooperation: Sweden's military is already largely aligned with NATO at a tactical level, and membership facilitates greater strategic integration.26 Sweden now participates in NATO's decision-making processes and assumes a larger role in the alliance's presence around Northern Europe.27 This includes participating in larger and more complex joint military exercises, such as the NATO Military Committee's visit to Sweden in March 2025 to understand the country's operational environment and capabilities.28
  • Bilateral and Regional Ties: Sweden has strengthened bilateral defense cooperation agreements with countries like Lithuania and Poland.29 It has also joined 16 other EU member states in a letter of intent with the European Defence Agency to develop integrated air and missile defense capabilities.30 The formation of the Joint Nordic Air Command, bringing together the front-line combat aircraft of Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark under a unified command structure, exemplifies enhanced regional cooperation.31
  • Support for Ukraine: Sweden has significantly increased its military support for Ukraine, committing SEK 40 billion (€3.69 billion) in 2025, an increase of SEK 15 billion. Swedish instructors from the Home Guard and the Army have been training Ukrainian soldiers as part of the UK-led Operation Interflex since 2022.32
  • International Missions: While increasingly focused on national and collective defense, the Swedish Armed Forces continue to contribute to various international peace support operations led by the UN and other multinational bodies.33 Historically, units have participated in missions in Afghanistan (Resolute Support Mission) and Kosovo (Kosovo Force). The Swedish Armed Forces are currently serving in eight countries, primarily focusing on peacekeeping and support roles.34

Total Defense ConceptEdit

Sweden maintains its "total defense" concept, which considers national infrastructure—including internet, telephony, energy, and secure supplies of food and medicine—as part of a comprehensive defense system.35 This holistic approach, which aligns with NATO guidelines for resilient societies, means that civil preparedness is a vital component of Sweden's overall defense structure.36 Every citizen between the ages of 16 and 70 may be called upon to aid society in various ways during a crisis or war, even if not directly involved in military service.37 The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) plays a key role in developing Sweden's civil defense and crisis preparedness, working closely with the Armed Forces and integrating civil preparedness efforts with NATO.38

The Swedish Armed Forces are undergoing a profound transformation, adapting to a more challenging security environment and embracing their role as a full member of NATO.39 With increased investment, personnel expansion, and advanced equipment acquisitions, Sweden is rapidly bolstering its military capabilities to ensure national security and contribute effectively to collective defense.40

Other government agencies reporting to the Ministry of DefenceEdit

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Voluntary defence organizationsEdit

See alsoEdit

ReferencesEdit

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External linksEdit

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Template:Swedish Armed Forces Template:Ministry of Defence (Sweden) Template:Sweden topics Template:Military of Europe Template:Militaries of European Union member states Template:Military navigation Template:Authority control

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